We need your help protecting this vital service as catastrophic public media funding cuts loom
On June 3, President Trump formally asked Congress to claw back $1.1 billion in already approved funding to the Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB). That funding was approved to support public radio and television stations like KUNR over the next two years.
On Thursday, June 12, members of the House voted to take back this approved public media funding, 214 to 212. The rescission request will now move to the Senate, where only 50 votes are needed to make these cuts a reality.
This is a critical moment. What happens next will decide whether public media can continue to serve our communities across the U.S. or be forced to scale back the work that matters most.
If Congress claws back the CPB’s funding, it would cut KUNR’s budget by 15%, or about $267,000, over the next two years. For many other public media stations across the country, especially in rural America, the impact will be even steeper.
The most powerful thing you can do right now is help us prepare for what’s ahead. Here’s what you can do right now:
- Use your voice: Go to Protect My Public Media to tell Congress what public media means to you.
- Establish a monthly donation to KUNR: That monthly gift isn’t just a donation — it’s a declaration — and we need your help protecting this vital public service.
- If you’re an existing donor, consider increasing your monthly donation to the station: Your ongoing support will help keep KUNR strong and independent, no matter what happens in Washington. Call KUNR at 775-327-5867 to get started.
- Call our testimonial line at 775-682-6039 to share how KUNR has affected your life. You might hear your voice on our air.
Thank you to everyone who has already spoken up to defend public media alongside more than 1.4 million others — to express loud and clear your support of our nation’s public media ecosystem through Protect My Public Media.
Your advocacy matters, and so does your generosity. Many of you have also stepped up to financially support KUNR to strengthen the station’s future, including a remarkable $50,000 challenge grant from the Greg Nelson Trust. We are deeply grateful.
Together, we will weather this challenge to keep KUNR’s vital public service a beacon for our Northern Nevada and Eastern Sierra region for many years to come.
What federal funding means for KUNR Public Radio
Federal funding supports public media’s ability to:
- Serve as our nation’s emergency communications infrastructure, providing critical alerts and coverage when disaster strikes.
- Keep rural communities across the nation informed, including right here in Nevada.
- Offer news, educational and cultural programming for free to all Americans — there are no paywalls in public media.
Federal grants from the Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB) are an essential investment in our community and nation. KUNR qualifies for annual grants from CPB that are unrestricted and can be used in any way to support our operation, including emergency infrastructure, rural outreach and programming.
About 15% of KUNR’s funding — or about $267,000 annually — is provided by the CPB in the form of a Community Service Grant. This funding allows us to leverage the federal investment into support from local sources, including listeners donating to the station, businesses, and foundations. For every federal dollar invested through the CPB, public radio stations raise on average $7 locally — a successful public-private partnership.
The CPB also directly supports reporting across the country, including here at KUNR. The CPB is currently supporting the salaries of KUNR’s two state government reporters. Their coverage is free for any Nevada news outlets to use in order to boost awareness about state government in Nevada.
CPB also makes collaboration possible. That includes KUNR’s participation in the Mountain West News Bureau, a regional collaborative newsroom that includes reporters from KUNR, Las Vegas, Idaho, New Mexico, Utah, Colorado and Wyoming. CPB funding directly supports the Mountain West News Bureau by supporting a managing editor position and other editorial resources. In turn, KUNR directly supports one reporter through local fundraising efforts to ensure our audience hears stories from urban, rural and tribal communities throughout our Mountain West region.
KUNR’s Public Safety Mission
Public radio, including our station, is a critical part of the nation’s civil defense and public safety infrastructure.
KUNR uses infrastructure to serve the community and state with emergency alerting services.
In 2024, KUNR issued dozens of alerts for major weather events, such as thunderstorms or blizzards, as well as wildfires. Our newsroom also covers and provides regular updates when major emergencies happen, such as live coverage the Davis Fire that affected South Reno in September 2024.
Here’s what you can do to help
While federal funding plays an important role in KUNR’s budget, the most important piece of our financial future has always been — and always will be — the direct financial support we get from our listeners and community organizations.
We believe local support is by far the biggest reason we’re able to support our mission. It’s why we have a thriving news team and hosts to keep you informed about our state and community. It’s why we offer the region’s only classical music and jazz station with KNCJ. It’s why we’ve been serving Northern Nevada and the Eastern Sierra since 1963 from the campus of the University of Nevada, Reno.
For Concerned Citizens
- Visit ProtectMyPublicMedia.org — a national group that helps facilitate messages to Congress about the importance of public media — to stay informed, access resources, and contact your legislators
- Reach out to family, friends, and neighbors and share why KUNR and public media matter to you and your community
- If you've considered making a donation to KUNR, now is the time to act. Make a one-time donation to KUNR or become a monthly donor today at KUNR.org/make-a-gift
For Current Members
- Thank you for supporting KUNR Public Radio and for making our work possible! Your continued support is vital
- During this critical time, consider increasing your monthly or annual donation by calling KUNR at 775-327-5867 or make an additional one-time donation to the station at KUNR.org/make-a-gift
- Call the KUNR Testimonial Line at 775-682-6039 to share what KUNR and public media mean to YOU!
For Business Sponsors
- For new, current or past business sponsors, consider renewing or starting a new contract with KUNR. Head to KUNR’s Business Support page to get started
For Major Donors and Foundations
- Please consider strategic investments in our public radio station by supporting our rural outreach, KUNR's coverage of state government, or our ongoing educational programs with the Reynolds School of Journalism and KUNR Youth Media through the Washoe County School District.
Please reach out to KUNR General Manager Brian Duggan with any questions at bduggan@kunr.org or 775-682-6055.
What is KUNR Public Radio?
KUNR Public Radio is an FCC-licensed nonprofit organization that’s owned by the Nevada System of Higher Education Board of Regents and is dedicated to continuously providing community news and information, celebrating local music and culture, and providing public safety services. It was founded in October 1963 on the UNR campus where it continues to operate to this day.
Our station provides 24/7 programming on the air and online to more than 722,000 people in Northern Nevada and the Eastern Sierra for free. Our station includes KNCJ Nevada Classical & Jazz, the only classical and jazz music station in Reno- Sparks, as well as KNCC Elko, which provides all of KUNR’s programming plus locally produced, original broadcast journalism to Northeastern Nevada.
With 16 full-time staff, which includes journalists, on-air hosts and business support staff, as well as 12 part-time staff, KUNR is deeply rooted in our community and committed to our public service mission. As a unit of the Reynolds School of Journalism at the University of Nevada, Reno, KUNR prides itself on being a living laboratory for training the next generation of journalists throughout the year. On average, KUNR employs four paid interns each spring, summer and fall semester.
All editorial decisions about programming for our audience are made at the station by us — people who know and live in our community.
We produce local programs that provide news about our community, promote dialogue among civic leaders, and highlight artists and performances in our area. That includes daily newscasts that air during the morning and afternoon rush hours, shows like Purple Politics Nevada with Lucia Starbuck, Al Aire con KUNR and the Biggest Little Concert Series.